New-York tribune., 1887-11-24
MUSIC.
NESsLER'S "TROMPErER.v


| It would not be surprising, altogether ineyra
cable, II Nesslers opera. " Der Trompccr Won s,k
hngcn,' which had its first American rcprcsenta,,o
at the Metropolitan Opera House last night shop,d
win such degree OF popularity to make II a ere,,
financial success. The record Of the last four ye,r,
Is against such an achievement by light opera bu,
tho Trompcter' IS little 10 be bound by the fo,te
OF tradition the deductions OF wseasres as the bs
and heroine Of schefels poem upon which tho o,op,
| Is based were TO be deferred from loving each Ohio,
J by the social restrictions OF two centuries ago T,a
| "Trompetcr" was born under lucky star During
the scant five years Of its life it has pcrhaps be,
PLAYED oftcner than any three operas in existence
FIon point Of vew-that which limits Itself to m,
art-value Of the work-hc fact battles cxpanstlon
for with all its vivaciiy and FRESHNESS and Sm,Is
| beauty, # IS not striking work Dozens Of ia
predecessors in the field Of German comic opera to
say nothing of the opera cOmlquc Of the Flcnchnnn
| Adam, Bolldcu Iialevy ard Aubcr much su
pcIior In every way. But the Germen's heart +,
stronger than his aesthetic judgment. and the Tron
peter" tugs at the heartsring Of those who have been
taught By centuries of tradition 10 love the things which
arc celcbrs'cd I'm this book and score
Throu ghout the Fathcrand the name Of schefel "a
household word every university student has sung
the songs from his GaudeamnsT In hundreds Of Com.
rerse' every schoolgirl has wept sentimental
tears hc parting of Ncrner' and Margariha'
and oced hyscrically Al their reunion; ard every
poets pictures Of The Rhine aud tho Black Forest.
Long bcior, his death in Arrl. 1856, the admiration
for his voris especially fJf Ter Trompeter SAX.
dngcn,' had grow into sort Of cult which w08li
most assncdy have turned the five hunG,rdih an.
nIvesary OF Heidelberg University Ia l5oG into
schcncl Festival had not the singer of the Od Palane
town died before that famous event occunld. is
hi, cult which has put Ne .eIs opera into the rcho
IT occupies, aided, perhaps, by tho German
Madch,n's sentimental disposition toward tic pi,iur-
cSquo tOcgcIy and chya' .c>qyc Tearing OF The
hero This disposition IS 50 strong tI,t
IT ovcnilci all aesthetic Considerations which might
grow of tho modern iclion tna tho trumpet IS
an unron ant.c nstrunen a.d carods.ng student vo
rawns hls CORPUS Juris7 sng- love songs 10 the
Countess Palatne at ni5.t and chooses lie o.
carecs, AID e,c>- vagaOOldagc, {, scarcely I'd ii
hero according 70 nineteenth century notions.
In January, 1oeC, opera on Tie same -ub.sc
TO which unknown composer named Emil ka-er
composed the music Was produced al &c ITALIA Tho
atic. The book OF this opera wa cOn-iruc od with
more xii than that pat the service OF Herr Ne,-ler
bat the mu-ic woIse tiau cullino y ace and ao
work did not axe i,scf popular The story followed
Schenol's poem closely IN the Genonem'nt Tan
Ncss.ers opera. though that was doubtful rinue
for when the poet promoted the tfumpc'er mo
chapelma-tcr VI the sAtine Chapel ia Rome h' WAS
guilty Of a great a H. ~ when hc permitted him 10
play fng-c," All swelling chords upon h' .h-il'
Alcnt aAd organic orchestra containing c.a net
hundred year before tae ca-inet va, invented no
Roman cIi>Oue + hand ii win fine pJef.aN -nl
however, and Il not qUtc tre a, The denOueloa5
In Ne-slcr's opera VIII rc sim nechfd and equity I'd
baron ha.ds hl, daughter over 10 his trii.peer 10
cause the young had fought irayel5 while tie
brdc groom whom the baron had chosen tunnel Cut
be- a craven, and then hni- strawberry mark %
the youth which taes The place Of The IOpe> paicns
OF nobi. IS IN the original poem.
The story OF The opera can be put together without
much difficulty from the Suggestions thrown ont In the
foregoing remarks. The music Il generally fresh All
niclOiious and, especially in the prologue, touches
chord which i bourd to vibrate rc,pon-vey wherever
Germans form Considerable commInty. II voices
the national love for ioIiy and mlle chorus music.
1t I, nos good Iramaic music AID
Innocent of the devices which opera
wn,cr, usually employ to stamp thr.r
character, with individuality. II IS simply good.
tuneful music, now stirring the choru. sings now
sent mental and charming and pretty when the lovers
are yo,clnS their sweet passion. But the opera Las
one element which splenddly adapt, II to lie Uses
of thc Metropolitan Opera House. 1t admits OF much
Ophiehcc oi stage aiIc anu lictuit ."c IA-cahtIy
These things have had full justice done them, more
over; theS are set 1Utih Oh such scae Indeed hat
they overcome the objection which has herctoioe cK
i>tcd 10 accepting work OF small dramatic and
musical cal.brc from the M'troro.ian stag. Anoher
thns winch mahs the ""ih dtA-hlWl i me opiO'
un.ty which II gives Herr Fischer = lcciaIy. 10 as
bc said about Herr Robinson but h, affected si!r
his inceSsant and eNaSpcratnG vocal woDbe and no
dpltlflSou Nhi'n ~ Na">'s al 'p ~ -. ~
should be chOhed 10y hl, own hpocntlcal emotion,
prevents those with normal arthctc stomach, nom
getting any enjoyment from his work
All of tie pats in the Oiera are well nucl. am no
performance last night moved smoothly. 10 Iial
Scdl- kIau and Ffaucin Me>>llH-er a special "o.d
of praise is due aud the aiegOrcal pro'r,sun iu III,
last act is feature which should prove attractive
NR. MINER AVID MS TOCR WITH MRS POTTER.
A report published II Is morning. said Mr. Nter
yesterday, about my having gwen some o' Mrs Pot
rors company their notices is just a fogtn GIT Aic
1t refers Only those IcOpc who received notice at
the enl of the first week. THE TRIDrSR printed